独善的(どくぜんてき)

Always carries a negative connotation. Describes people who are convinced of their own correctness and dismiss or ignore other viewpoints. Often used to criticize leaders, authority figures, or anyone who acts unilaterally.

Common collocations

• 独善的(どくぜんてき)な態度(たいど): self-righteous attitude
• 独善的(どくぜんてき)な考(かんが)え: self-righteous thinking
• 独善的(どくぜんてき)な行動(こうどう): self-righteous behavior
• 独善的(どくぜんてき)な判断(はんだん): self-righteous judgment
• 独善的(どくぜんてき)になる: to become self-righteous

Similar words

• 身勝手(みがって): selfish — focuses on acting for one's own convenience without considering others
• 傲慢(ごうまん): arrogant, haughty — emphasizes looking down on others from a sense of superiority
• 自己(じこ)中心的(ちゅうしんてき): self-centered — describes putting oneself at the center of everything
• 独断的(どくだんてき): unilateral, arbitrary — emphasizes making decisions alone without consulting others

Etymology

Composed of 独善(どくぜん) (self-complacency) + 的(てき). 独(どく) means alone and 善(ぜん) means good/virtue — literally "alone in one's goodness."